Thirteen people have applied to become the next superintendent of the Ashland School District, said Eileen Hushbeck, the district's director of human services.

Hushbeck said five of the candidates are from Oregon, though she wasn't certain whether anyone from Ashland applied. The deadline was Wednesday.

The district will hold a special board meeting Jan. 21 to determine which candidates will be interviewed, following a screening-and-interview training next week from the Oregon School Boards Association. The OSBA is serving as the district's search consultant in the process.

Ashland School Board Chairwoman Carol Davis said the names of the candidates will not be disclosed until the finalists are announced in February following the interview process.

The district hopes to have a new superintendent selected by the end of February, according to a timeline on its website.

Superintendent Juli Di Chiro will retire in June 2013 after 13 years in the post.

Di Chiro had told the board after signing her contract three years ago that it likely would be her last with the district.

For more information on the upcoming selection process, visit www.ashland.k12.or.us.